Wine Spectrum 2019 Top 100 

Wine of the Year is 2016 Shypoke Cabernet

2016 Shypoke Cabernet

Cabernet Sauvignon |  Napa |  Wine Spectrum 96 | Buy Here

Impeccable Cabernet from 100 point Turnbull Winemaker Peter Heitz. This wine proves why the Napa Valley is known for some fantastic cabernets

Impressive, powerful, no-holds-barred Cabernet that is also priced right (a rare find in the Napa Cabernet market these days).  There are many more expensive wines out there that do not offer this level of quality, but this Cabernet outshines them all. Here you have a wine that delivers classic depth and intensity for under $60 a bottle. This is not a small or timid wine by any stretch of the imagination, but it works, is well balanced, and seems to represent what winemaker Peter Heitz is all about: revealing the essence of vintage, vineyard, and variety with no apologies.

We are always proud to feature small, artisanal estates that have been hand producing quality wines for generations. There are a handful of California estates that have such history and tradition. One of the best is Shypoke in Calistoga, Napa Valley.

The Shypoke Vineyard was first planted in Calistoga by the Heitz family after they emigrated from Alsace in 1904, when Peter Heitz’ great-grandparents immigrated from Alsace and literally planted roots and built bonded winery #103 for the production of fine wines. The winery has been family-run ever since, with the fifth-generation winemaker, Peter Heitz currently managing the estate along with his wife, Meg. All the vines are farmed sustainably, the fruit is hand-harvested and the wines are made in tiny amounts.

And although the wines he produces for his own small family label may not garner the same accolades as the massive wines Peter is turning out at Turnbull, they are no less deserving of the same praise. The same level of quality and attention to detail can be tasted in every sip. But like with many small production wines, there is simply never enough wine to go around. Order the #1 Wine of 2019 before it disappears! 

Tasting Notes:

Aromatic, pure, and elegant. Dusted summer blackberries and creme de cassis round out in the midpalate. Fine-tuned French Oak is in perfect balance. Silky tannins and focusing red fruit high tones.